Australia Climate

Weather in Australia Varies by Climate Zones

Australia climate is as diverse as its landscape. There is humidity, heat, drought, snow, but it is mostly nice along the coasts.

Travel across the country to experience various climate zones. Weather in Australia covers tropical regions in the north, dry land masses in the centre and temperate regions in the south.

Our seasons are:

Spring from September to November;

Summer from December to February, with January being the hottest month;

Autumn from March to May;

Winter from June to August.

Sometimes summer temperatures can rise above 50 degrees Celsius in the hotter inland regions of the north or central Australia. Despite this, there is life in the Australian Desert. Visit the Finke Gorge National Park to see for yourself.

In winter temperature can drop below zero in some of the cooler areas of the south.

However the temperature difference between summer and winter is much lower than in other parts of the world. Below zero degrees C do not happen often, as weather in Australia is influenced by its surrounding oceans. This is why most of the population lives along the south eastern coastlines.

Australia Climate - Various Climate Zones

Australian weather is highly predictable in its northern parts: Queensland and Northern Territories. In the dry season, which covers most of autumn and winter, there's not much rain and the average temperature in the coastal areas is around 20 - 25 degrees Celsius. Really nice, if you choose to go to the beach at this time of the year.

Come spring, the north heats up. Then in summer it gets wet, so you are better off going south. Summer weather is quite pleasant in the southern states but it is less predictable.

There are days in Sydney when temperatures can go up to 40 C at noon and then down to 20 in the evening.

Go further south to Melbourne - if you are "lucky", you could experience all the seasons in the same day.

Snow is extremely rare in winter, even in the most southern parts of the country, such as Tasmania. But if skiing is your hobby, you can certainly enjoy it in Australia, in the highlands. Drive a couple of hours from Sydney or Melbourne and get to the ski resorts of the Great Dividing Range.

Australia climate of the inland areas is rather harsh and hot, with droughts that can extend over several years. From spring to autumn average maximum temperatures can climb to around 40 C. See here what the Alice Springs weather is as an example. Heatwaves can appear in the cooler south from time to time.

Hot weather in Australia can cause bush fires in summer in the southern states. The northern states can get their share of fires in winter.

Weather in Australia - Extremes

Some of the extremes of the Australian climate scene are cyclones in the tropical areas, storms, hail, flood.

Severe thunderstorm and hail can bring a great deal of damage: fallen trees, damaged rooftops, chipped cars. Despite being the continent with the lowest rainfall, flood happens, caused by occasional heavy rain or storm. And these extremes affect not only inland areas but also the climate of Sydney Australia.

Tropical cyclones are a threat to northern coastal communities but they bring the much needed rain for the dry inland regions.

Coastal Strips - Excellent for an Enjoyable Lifestyle

The climate of the coastal strips, where the large majority of the population of Australia lives, is generally mild and mostly free from extremes of heat and cold.

With weather in Australia being so variable there's always something to suit everyone: swimming near the coral reef, walking in the tropical forests or skiing in resorts such as Thredbo or Perisher.